SpaceX moves Starship Flight 15 booster to launch pad for 'squeeze test' ahead of epic double-catch attempt (photos)

SpaceX has moved its Super Heavy Booster 22, also known as the first stage of Starship, to the launch mount at its Starbase facility in South Texas in preparation for its upcoming Flight 15 test. This move comes ahead of the launch that is scheduled for this Friday, November 13. The purpose of this move is to conduct a "squeeze test" on the booster, which involves catching both Booster 22 and the upper stage of Starship with the launch tower's arms in a double landing catch.

This unprecedented attempt would mark the first full recovery of an orbital rocket in history. The company has used the chopstick arms during previous Starship flights, successfully catching Booster 22 on three occasions. However, this will be the first time they attempt to catch the upper stage, Starship, which flies higher and farther, making it a more challenging target.

If successful, this testing would pave the way for SpaceX to perform similar recoveries on all future Starship missions. This innovation would enable the company to increase the launch cadence, crucial for achieving its ambitious goal of launching Starship 10,000 times per year by 2030. The primary uses for Starship include expanding the Starlink V3 broadband constellation and constructing a larger Starmind AI data-center network.

The launch tower's arms will capture Booster 22 approximately 6.5 minutes after liftoff, while Starship will be caught about 22 hours later, following the deployment of 26 Starlink V3 spacecraft into Low Earth Orbit and 14 orbits around the Earth. The launch window for Flight 15 opens at 5:45 p.m. EST (2245 GMT; 4:45 p.m. local Texas time) and can be watched live on Space.com for real-time updates.